702 Music withNonn Botha

Now that NPA head, Shaun Abrahams has announced on Friday that the state will pursue fraud and corruption charges against former President Jacob Zuma, what options does he have?

The decision to finally pursue charges comes after a nine-year-long legal battle and more than R15 million spent on legal fees. Last year, the Supreme Court of Appeal set aside the 2009 decision to withdraw the case against the former president.

Speaking to John Maythan, criminal law expert James grant postulates that now he has been charged, Zuma could have in his position the docket which effectively is the case which the police, under the guidance of the prosecution team, would have collected against him.

Grant says Zuma could also at this point call for all sorts of other evidence which he would claim is necessary, and which is in some way referred to in the docket - and cause a delay in that way.

There is a reference to some other organisation which is pursuing a stay of prosecution on his behalf, he could make the argument that because that matter is pending, therefore we should wait to hear from them.

— James Grant, Criminal Law expect

Beyond that, I don't see much room for anything that a court of law would entertain.